Antenna system for enabling diversity and MIMO
An RF communication system (100) including a first antenna (110) having a first antenna element (112) and a second antenna element (114), and a second antenna (120) having a third antenna element (122) and a fourth antenna element (124). A first transmitter (150) can apply a first signal commonly to the first antenna and a second transmitter (152) can apply a second signal differentially to the first antenna. A third transmitter (154) can apply a third signal commonly to the second antenna and a fourth transmitter (156) can apply a fourth signal differentially to the second antenna. In another arrangement, a first transmitter (350) can apply a first signal commonly or differentially to the first antenna and a second transmitter (352) can apply a second signal commonly or differentially to the second antenna.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to antenna systems and, more particularly, to antenna systems for mobile devices.
2. Background of the Invention
Mobile communication devices such as mobile telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) typically communicate via RF signals transmitted in the upper MHz (e.g. 900 MHz) or lower GHz (e.g. 1.8 GHz) frequency ranges. In multi-path environments, such as urban areas, RF signals propagated at these frequencies are especially susceptible to reflection and scattering caused by interaction of the signals with buildings and other structures. In consequence, mobile communication devices often receive multiple instances of the same RF signal with each instance following a different propagation path. For example, a device may receive a first instance of an RF signal that is reflected off of a first building and a second instance of the same RF signal that is reflected off of a second building. Different instances of the RF signal typically are received at different times, depending on the propagation path of each instance. Accordingly, the different signal instances are oftentimes referred to as uncorrelated signals.
Two types of antenna systems that have been developed for use in multi-path environments are diversity antennas systems and multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems. A diversity antenna system includes multiple antenna elements to receive or transmit an RF signal and processes the signal from the element receiving the highest quality signal. Depending on their orientation, different antenna elements may receive different uncorrelated instances of the RF signal. A MIMO antenna system also includes multiple antenna elements. In contrast to diversity antenna systems, MIMO antenna systems simultaneously process uncorrelated signals. Both diversity and MIMO antenna systems can increase system capacity and improve reliability in comparison to antenna systems which use a single antenna element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an RF communication system. The RF communication system can include a first antenna having a first antenna element and at least a second antenna element, and a second antenna having a third antenna element and at least a fourth antenna element. The system also can include a first transmitter that applies a first outbound RF signal commonly to the first and second antenna elements, and a second transmitter that applies a second outbound RF signal differentially to the first and second antenna elements. In addition, the system can include a third transmitter that applies a third outbound RF signal commonly to the third and fourth antenna elements, and a fourth transmitter that applies a fourth outbound RF signal differentially to the third and fourth antenna elements.
The system further can include a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board can have a first edge portion and a second edge portion opposingly positioned with respect to the first edge portion. The first antenna element can be disposed proximate to the first edge portion and the second antenna element can be disposed proximate to the second edge portion. The printed circuit board also can have a third edge portion and a fourth edge portion opposingly positioned with respect to the third edge portion. The third antenna element can be disposed proximate to the third edge portion and the fourth antenna element can be disposed proximate to the fourth edge portion. An orientation of the first antenna can be perpendicular to an orientation of the second antenna.
The first transmitter and/or the second transmitter can be selectively operable in a transmit mode in which either of the first outbound RF signal and the second outbound RF signal that exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in comparison to the other signal is exclusively transmitted from the first antenna. Similarly, the third transmitter and the fourth transmitter can be selectively operable in a transmit mode in which either of the third outbound RF signal and the fourth outbound RF signal that exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in comparison to the other signal is exclusively transmitted from the second antenna.
The system also can include a first receiver that receives a first inbound RF signal commonly from the first and second antenna elements and a second receiver that receives a second inbound RF signal differentially from the first and second antenna elements. In addition, the system can include a third receiver that receives a third inbound RF signal commonly from the third and fourth antenna elements and a fourth receiver that receives a fourth inbound RF signal differentially from the third and fourth antenna elements.
The first receiver and/or the second receiver can be selectively operable in a receive mode in which either of the first inbound RF signal and the second inbound RF signal that exhibits higher quality signal reception characteristics in comparison to the other signal is exclusively received from the first antenna. Similarly, the third receiver and the fourth receiver can be selectively operable in a receive mode in which either of the third inbound RF signal and the fourth inbound RF signal that exhibits higher quality signal reception characteristics in comparison to the other signal is exclusively received from the second antenna.
The RF communication system also can include a first transmitter that applies a first outbound RF signal commonly to the first and second antenna elements in a first transmit mode, and applies the first outbound RF signal differentially to the first and second antenna elements in a second transmit mode. In addition, a second transmitter can be provided. The second transmitter can apply a second outbound RF signal commonly to the third and fourth antenna elements in a third transmit mode, and apply the second outbound RF signal differentially to the third and fourth antenna elements in a fourth transmit mode.
The RF communication system can be selectively operable in a plurality of system modes for transmitting RF signals. In a first system mode the first transmitter can operate in the first transmit mode and the second transmitter can operate in the third transmit mode. In a second system mode the first transmitter can operate in the first transmit mode and the second transmitter can operate in the fourth transmit mode. In a third system mode the first transmitter can operate in the second transmit mode and the second transmitter can operate in the third transmit mode. In a fourth system mode the first transmitter can operate in the second transmit mode and the second transmitter can operate in the fourth transmit mode.
The first transmitter can be selectively operable in the first transmit mode if the first outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the first transmit mode in comparison to the second transmit mode, and the first transmitter can be selectively operable in the second transmit mode if the first outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the second transmit mode in comparison to the first transmit mode. Likewise, the second transmitter can be selectively operable in the third transmit mode if the second outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the third transmit mode in comparison to the fourth transmit mode, and the second transmitter can be selectively operable in the fourth transmit mode if the second outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the fourth transmit mode in comparison to the third transmit mode.
The RF communication system also can include a first receiver and a second receiver. The first receiver can receive a first inbound RF signal commonly from the first and second antenna elements in a first receive mode, and can receive the first inbound RF signal differentially from the first and second antenna elements in a second receive mode. The second receiver can receive a second inbound RF signal commonly from the third and fourth antenna elements in a third receive mode, and can receive the second inbound RF signal differentially from the third and fourth antenna elements in a fourth receive mode.
The RF communication system can be selectively operable in a plurality of system modes for receiving inbound RF signals. In a first system mode the first receiver can operate in the first receive mode and the second receiver can operate in the third receive mode. In a second system mode the first receiver can operate in the first receive mode and the second receiver can operate in the fourth receive mode. In a third system mode the first receiver can operate in the second receive mode and the second receiver can operate in the third receive mode. In a fourth system mode the first receiver can operate in the second receive mode and the second receiver can operate in the fourth receive mode.
In addition, the first receiver can be selectively operable in the first receive mode if the first inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the first receive mode in comparison to the second receive mode, and the first receiver can be selectively operable in the second receive mode if the first inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the second receive mode in comparison to the first receive mode. Similarly, the second receiver can be selectively operable in the third receive mode if the second inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the third receive mode in comparison to the fourth receive mode, and the second receiver can be selectively operable in the fourth receive mode if the fourth inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the fourth receive mode in comparison to the third receive mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSPreferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The present invention relates to an RF communication system that can simultaneously transmit and receive multiple uncorrelated signals. Because the signals are uncorrelated, the signals can be used as distinct communication channels, thereby providing high system capacity over a given bandwidth. In addition, the antenna system can simultaneously operate both as a diversity antenna system and as a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, thereby providing improved system performance in multi-path environments in comparison to systems of the prior art.
The RF communication system 100 also can include a printed circuit board 130 on which components of the system 100, such as the antenna elements 112, 114, 122, 124, are disposed. The printed circuit board 130 can be, for example, a printed circuit board for a mobile communication device, such as a handheld communication device.
The printed circuit board 130 can include a first edge portion 132 and a second edge portion 134. The second edge portion 134 can be opposingly positioned with respect to the first edge portion 132. The first antenna element 112 can be disposed proximate to the first edge portion 132 and the second antenna element 114 can be disposed proximate to the second edge portion 134. The printed circuit board 130 further can include a third edge portion 136 and a fourth edge portion 138. The fourth edge portion 138 can be opposingly positioned with respect to the third edge portion 136. The third antenna element 122 can be disposed proximate to the third edge portion 136 and the fourth antenna element 124 can be disposed proximate to the fourth edge portion 138.
In one arrangement, the antenna elements 112, 114, 122, 124 each can include an antenna feed 140 disposed proximate to a slot 142 defined within the printed circuit board 130, thereby forming slot antenna elements. In another arrangement, the antenna elements 112, 114, 122, 124 each can include a patch antenna element or planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) element realized proximate to the printed circuit board 130. In yet another arrangement, the antenna elements 112, 114, 122, 124 each can include a monopole or folded monopole antenna element disposed approximately orthogonal to the respective edge portions 132, 134, 136, 138. Slot antenna elements, patch antenna elements, PIFA antenna elements, and monopole and folded monopole antenna elements are known to the skilled artisan. Other antenna elements also are known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope of the present invention.
Referring again to
A first hybrid circuit 160 can be communicatively linked between the first and second transceivers 150, 152 and the first and second antenna elements 112, 114. Similarly, a second hybrid 162 can be communicatively linked between the third and fourth transceivers 154, 156 and the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. The hybrids 160, 162 can be multi-port devices which receive input signals and generate correlating output signals that are either in-phase with respect to the input signals and/or out-of-phase with respect to the input signals. Hybrids are reciprocal components that are known to the skilled artisan. Other reciprocal and non-reciprocal components which may perform the same functions as the hybrids 160, 162 also are known to those skilled in the art, and are within the scope of the present invention.
In operation, the first hybrid 160 can receive a first outbound RF signal—hereinafter “first signal S1”—from the first transceiver 150 and propagate the first signal S1 commonly, or in-phase, to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114. An example of the field pattern 400 that can be produced by commonly applying the first signal S1 to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 is shown in
Notably, the degree of correlation between the radiated electromagnetic fields associated with the commonly applied first signal S1 and the radiated electromagnetic fields associated with the differentially applied second signal S2 can be very low. For example, the degree of correlation between the first and second signals S1, S2 can be computed by the following equation:
where E{·} is the expected value operator and Ei(θ,φ) (i=1, 2) is the radiated electric field pattern relative to the i-th transmit or receive mode. Applying this equation to the example RF communication system 100 of
The second hybrid 162 can receive a third outbound RF signal—hereinafter “third signal S3”—from the third transceiver 154 and propagate the third signal S3 commonly to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. An example of the field pattern 600 that can be produced by commonly applying the third signal S3 to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124 is shown in
The field patterns 600, 700 produced by excitation of the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124 can be non-symmetrical, as shown, by offsetting the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124 with respect to a centerline 170 of the printed circuit board 130. The invention is not limited in this regard, however. For example, the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124 can be aligned on the centerline 170 to produce a symmetrical field pattern. Moreover, although the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 can be aligned with a centerline 172 of the printed circuit board 130, as shown, the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 also can be offset from the centerline 172 to produce a non-symmetrical field pattern.
By way of example, equation (1) can be applied to the RF communication system 100 of
In addition to providing a very small degree of correlation between signals applied commonly and differentially to a particular antenna, the present invention also provides for a very small degree of correlation between the signals S1, S2 applied to the first antenna 110 and the signals S3, S4 applied to the second antenna 120. For example, applying equation (1) to the RF communication system 100 of
The values of the predicted correlation coefficients are very small. Accordingly, the RF communication system 100 can simultaneously transmit the signals, S1, S2, S3, S4 with negligible signal degradation due to interference between signals.
The RF communication system 100 also can simultaneously receive multiple signals. For example, the first hybrid 160 can forward a first inbound RF signal that is received commonly on the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 to the first transceiver 150, and forward a second inbound RF signal that is received differentially on the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 to the second transceiver 152. Similarly, the second hybrid 162 can forward a third inbound RF signal that is received commonly on the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124 to the third transceiver 154, and forward a fourth inbound RF signal that is received differentially on the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124 to the fourth transceiver 156. Because of the reciprocal behavior of the structure, the degree of correlation between the inbound signals received at the first, second, third and fourth transceivers 150, 152, 154, 156 also can be predicted by equation (1).
Further, in addition to MIMO operation as described above, the RF communication system 100 can operate as a diversity antenna system. For example, during a communication session, inbound RF signals can include channel status information that represents the quality of the outbound RF signals. The channel status information can include, for instance, a bit error rate and/or a packet error rate of the transmitted signals. The channel status information can be extracted from the inbound RF signals and evaluated to determine whether to implement diversity for transmitting the outbound RF signals. If, for example, the quality of the first signal S1 being transmitted by the first antenna 110 is low, the information contained in the first signal can be forwarded to the second transceiver 152 to be transmitted in the second signal S2. Similarly, if the quality of the second signal S2 being transmitted by the first antenna 110 is low, the information contained in the second signal S2 can be forwarded to the first transceiver 150 to be transmitted in the first signal S1.
In another arrangement, if the quality of the first and second signals S1, S2 being transmitted by the first antenna 110 is low, the same first and second signals S1, S2 can be forwarded to the third and fourth transceivers 154, 156 for transmission by the second antenna 120. Likewise, if the quality of the third and fourth signals S3, S4 being transmitted by the second antenna 120 is low, the same third and fourth signals S3, S4 can be forwarded to the first and second transceivers 150, 152 for transmission by the first antenna 110.
In another arrangement, the transceivers 150, 152 can select the first signal S1 and the second signal S2 so that their sum is equal to zero, i.e., S2=−S1. In this arrangement, the antenna element 114 can be excited while the antenna element 112 is not. Likewise, the first signal S1 and the second signal S2 can be selected so that their difference is equal to zero, which can result in the antenna element 112 being excited while the antenna element 114 is not. In a similar manner, the transceivers 154, 156 can select the third and fourth signals S3 and S4 to excite either the third antenna element 122 or the fourth antenna element 124.
Furthermore, one or more of the transceivers 150, 152, 154, 156 can be selectively operable in a receive mode in which the transceiver processes signals that exhibit the highest quality reception characteristics. The reception characteristics can be determined, for example, by channel status information that includes the bit error rate and/or the packet error rate of the received signals. For example, the first transceiver 150 and/or the second transceiver 152 can be selectively operable in a receive mode in which either of the first inbound RF signal and the second inbound RF signal that exhibits higher quality signal reception characteristics in comparison to the other signal is exclusively received from the first antenna 110. Similarly, the third transceiver 154 and the fourth transceiver 156 can be selectively operable in a receive mode in which either of the third inbound RF signal and the fourth inbound RF signal that exhibits higher quality signal reception characteristics in comparison to the other signal is exclusively received from the second antenna 120.
In a first transmit mode, the first switch 254 can receive the first signal S1 from the first transceiver 250 and forward the first signal S1 to a first input port 270 of the first hybrid 160, which can cause the first signal S1 to be commonly applied to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114. In a second transmit mode, the first switch 254 can receive the first signal S1 from the first transceiver 250 and forward the first signal S1 to a second input port 272 of the first hybrid 160, which can cause the first signal S1 to be differentially applied to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114.
Further, in a third transmit mode, the second switch 256 can receive the second signal S2 from the second transceiver 252 and forward the second signal S2 to a first input port 274 of the second hybrid 162, which can cause the second signal S2 to be commonly applied to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a fourth transmit mode, the second switch 256 can receive the second signal S2 from the second transceiver 252 and forward the second signal S2 to a second input port 276 of the second hybrid 162, which can cause the second signal S2 to be differentially applied to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124.
Accordingly, the RF communication system 100 can be selectively operable in a plurality of system modes for transmitting RF signals. In a first system mode the first signal S1 can be commonly applied to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second signal S2 is commonly applied to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a second system mode the first signal S1 can be commonly applied to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second signal S2 is differentially applied to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a third system mode the first signal S1 can be differentially applied to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second signal S2 is commonly applied to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a fourth system mode the first signal S1 can be differentially applied to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second signal S2 is differentially applied to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124.
The RF communication system 100 also can be selectively operable in a plurality of system modes for receiving RF signals. In a first of such system modes a first inbound RF signal can be commonly received from the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while a second inbound RF signal is commonly received from the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a second system mode the first inbound RF signal can be commonly received from the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second inbound RF signal is differentially received from the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a third system mode the first inbound RF signal can be differentially received from the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second inbound RF signal is commonly received from the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. In a fourth system mode the first inbound RF signal can be differentially received from the first and second antenna elements 112, 114 while the second inbound RF signal is differentially received from the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124. Provided all components are reciprocal, the degree of correlation between the inbound signals generated by the first and second transceivers 250, 252 also can be predicted by equation (1).
In an alternate arrangement shown in
In operation, a first control signal C1 and a second control signal C2 can selectively turn on and turn off the phase inverters 380, 382, thereby controlling signal flow of signals to and from the first antenna element 112. For instance, to provide the first signal S1 commonly to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114, the phase inverter 380 can be turned off thereby providing the first signal S1 to the first antenna element 112 with a 0° phase shift. In this arrangement, the first signal S1 also can be provided to the second antenna element 114 with a 0° phase shift. In order to provide the first signal S1 differentially to the first and second antenna elements 112, 114, the phase inverter 380 can be turned on, thereby providing the first signal S1 to the first antenna element 112 with a 180° phase shift. The phase inverters 384, 386 and circulators 394, 396 can be operatively controlled by a third control signal C3 and a fourth control signal C4 in a similar manner to apply the second signal S2 both commonly and differentially to the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124, and to receive the signals both commonly and differentially from the third and fourth antenna elements 122, 124.
In this arrangement, each transceiver 350, 352 can simultaneously transmit and receive signals using different antenna modes. For instance, the transceiver 350 can transmit a signal by commonly applying the signal to antenna elements 112, 114 while simultaneously receiving a signal differentially from the antenna elements 112, 114. Accordingly, the transceivers 350, 352 each can select an optimum transmit mode independent of an optimum receive mode that is selected.
Referring to
Referring to
As used herein, numerical references such as “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. distinguish specific structures or steps from other structures or steps. Such numerical references do not, however, indicate any specific structural order or an order of steps performed in any process. The term “commonly applied,” as used herein, is defined as applying signals in-phase. Similarly, the term “commonly receive,” as used herein, is defined as receiving signals either with no applied phase adjustments, or with similar phase adjustments applied to each of the subject signals. The term “differentially applied,” as used herein, is defined as applying signals out-of-phase (e.g. with a phase difference of approximately 180°). The term “differentially receive,” as used herein, is defined as receiving signals out-of-phase.
The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically, i.e. communicatively linked through a communication channel or pathway. The term “proximate to,” as used herein, is defined as at or near. For example, an antenna element proximate to an end portion of a printed circuit board can be at, or near, the end portion.
This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An RF communication system comprising:
- a first antenna comprising a first antenna element and at least a second antenna element;
- a second antenna comprising a third antenna element and at least a fourth antenna element;
- a first transmitter that applies a first outbound RF signal commonly to the first and second antenna elements;
- a second transmitter that applies a second outbound RF signal differentially to the first and second antenna elements;
- a third transmitter that applies a third outbound RF signal commonly to the third and fourth antenna elements; and
- a fourth transmitter that applies a fourth outbound RF signal differentially to the third and fourth antenna elements.
2. The RF communication system of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising a first edge portion and a second edge portion opposingly positioned with respect to the first edge portion, wherein the first antenna element is disposed proximate to the first edge portion and the second antenna element is disposed proximate to the second edge portion.
3. The RF communication system of claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a third edge portion and a fourth edge portion opposingly positioned with respect to the third edge portion, wherein the third antenna element is disposed proximate to the third edge portion and the fourth antenna element is disposed proximate to the fourth edge portion.
4. The RF communication system of claim 3, wherein an orientation of the first antenna is perpendicular to an orientation of the second antenna.
5. The RF communication system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are selectively operable in a transmit mode in which a signal, which is selected from a first group consisting of the first outbound RF signal and the second outbound RF signal, that exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in comparison to the other signal in the first group is exclusively transmitted from the first antenna.
6. The RF communication system of claim 5, wherein the third transmitter and the fourth transmitter are selectively operable in a transmit mode in which a signal, which is selected from a second group consisting of the third outbound RF signal and the fourth outbound RF signal, that exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in comparison to the other signal in the second group is exclusively transmitted from the second antenna.
7. The RF communication system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first receiver that receives a first inbound RF signal commonly from the first and second antenna elements;
- a second receiver that receives a second inbound RF signal differentially from the first and second antenna elements;
- a third receiver that receives a third inbound RF signal commonly from the third and fourth antenna elements; and
- a fourth receiver that receives a fourth inbound RF signal differentially from the third and fourth antenna elements.
8. The RF communication system of claim 7, wherein the first receiver and the second receiver are selectively operable in a receive mode in which a signal, which is selected from a first group consisting of the first inbound RF signal and the second inbound RF signal, that exhibits higher quality signal reception characteristics in comparison to the other signal in the first group is exclusively received from the first antenna.
9. The RF communication system of claim 7, wherein the third receiver and the fourth receiver are selectively operable in a receive mode in which a signal, which is selected from a second group consisting of the third inbound RF signal and the fourth inbound RF signal, that exhibits higher quality signal reception characteristics in comparison to the other signal in the second group is exclusively received from the second antenna.
10. An RF communication system comprising:
- a first antenna comprising a first antenna element and at least a second antenna element;
- a second antenna comprising a third antenna element and at least a fourth antenna element;
- a first transmitter that applies a first outbound RF signal commonly to the first and second antenna elements in a first transmit mode and applies the first outbound RF signal differentially to the first and second antenna elements in a second transmit mode; and
- a second transmitter that applies a second outbound RF signal commonly to the third and fourth antenna elements in a third transmit mode, and applies the second outbound RF signal differentially to the third and fourth antenna elements in a fourth transmit mode.
11. The RF communication system of claim 10, wherein the RF communication system is selectively operable in a plurality of system modes comprising:
- a first system mode in which the first transmitter operates in the first transmit mode and the second transmitter operates in the third transmit mode;
- a second system mode in which the first transmitter operates in the first transmit mode and the second transmitter operates in the fourth transmit mode;
- a third system mode in which the first transmitter operates in the second transmit mode and the second transmitter operates in the third transmit mode; and
- a fourth system mode in which the first transmitter operates in the second transmit mode and the second transmitter operates in the fourth transmit mode.
12. The RF communication system of claim 10, further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising a first edge portion and a second edge portion opposingly positioned with respect to the first edge portion, wherein the first antenna element is disposed proximate to the first edge portion and the second antenna element is disposed proximate to the second edge portion.
13. The RF communication system of claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a third edge portion and a fourth edge portion opposingly positioned with respect to the third edge portion, wherein the third antenna element is disposed proximate to the third edge portion and the fourth antenna element is disposed proximate to the fourth edge portion.
14. The RF communication system of claim 13, wherein an orientation of the first antenna is perpendicular to an orientation of the second antenna.
15. The RF communication system of claim 10, wherein the first transmitter is selectively operable in the first transmit mode if the first outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the first transmit mode in comparison to the second transmit mode, and the first transmitter is selectively operable in the second transmit mode if the first outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the second transmit mode in comparison to the first transmit mode.
16. The RF communication system of claim 15, wherein the second transmitter is selectively operable in the third transmit mode if the second outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the third transmit mode in comparison to the fourth transmit mode, and the second transmitter is selectively operable in the fourth transmit mode if the second outbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal transmission characteristics in the fourth transmit mode in comparison to the third transmit mode.
17. The RF communication system of claim 10, further comprising:
- a first receiver that receives a first inbound RF signal commonly from the first and second antenna elements in a first receive mode, and receives the first inbound RF signal differentially from the first and second antenna elements in a second receive mode; and
- a second receiver that receives a second inbound RF signal commonly from the third and fourth antenna elements in a third receive mode, and receives the second inbound RF signal differentially from the third and fourth antenna elements in a fourth receive mode.
18. The RF communication system of claim 17, wherein the RF communication system is selectively operable in a plurality of system modes comprising:
- a first system mode in which the first receiver operates in the first receive mode and the second receiver operates in the third receive mode;
- a second system mode in which the first receiver operates in the first receive mode and the second receiver operates in the fourth receive mode;
- a third system mode in which the first receiver operates in the second receive mode and the second receiver operates in the third receive mode; and
- a fourth system mode in which the first receiver operates in the second receive mode and the second receiver operates in the fourth receive mode.
19. The RF communication system of claim 17, wherein the first receiver is selectively operable in the first receive mode if the first inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the first receive mode in comparison to the second receive mode, and the first receiver is selectively operable in the second receive mode if the first inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the second receive mode in comparison to the first receive mode.
20. The RF communication system of claim 17, wherein the second receiver is selectively operable in the third receive mode if the second inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the third receive mode in comparison to the fourth receive mode, and the second receiver is selectively operable in the fourth receive mode if the second inbound RF signal exhibits higher quality signal receive characteristics in the fourth receive mode in comparison to the third receive mode.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 30, 2005
Publication Date: May 31, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Giorgi Bit-Babik (Sunrise, FL), Antonio Faraone (Plantation, FL), Carlo DiNallo (Plantation, FL)
Application Number: 11/290,175
International Classification: H04B 1/02 (20060101); H04B 1/04 (20060101); H04M 1/00 (20060101);